Bell’s Brewing

Bell’s Planetary Spotlight: Venus

Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, MI) celebrates Gustav Holst’s classical masterpiece “The Planets”, with a specialty beer series that starts this year.

Each offering is a different interpretation of the composer’s movements, like the above Venus, The Bringer of Peace. This edition is Continue Reading →

Bell’s First Cans Hit Shelves

Bell’s Brewery’s first cans are now hitting shelves. Yes, finally Oberon and Two Hearted Ale are pool friendly.

The excitement built back in 2012, when the cans were slated for the market.  May, 2014 they are finally hitting shelves.

Bell’s Oberon cans are Continue Reading →

Bell’s Oberon Returns. Cans Soon.

It may not feel like it, but warmer weather is close. It has to be right?

Bell’s Brewery has released Oberon again for 2014 this week. Oberon signals the hope of warmer weather, porch drinking, and baseball tailgating.

“With a winter like Continue Reading →

Bell’s To Ship to SoCal

Bell’s Brewery will begin shipping to southern California in May, 2014. SoCal marks the 20th state that Bell’s distributes to.

The brewery has selected Craft Beer Guild Distributing of California to distribute their entire portfolio to San Diego and surrounding areas.

“These two counties Continue Reading →

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Headlines

Bell’s Planetary Spotlight: Venus

Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, MI) celebrates Gustav Holst’s classical masterpiece “The Planets”, with a specialty beer series that starts this year.

Each offering is a different interpretation of the composer’s movements, like the above Venus, The Bringer of Peace. This edition is first and foremost a blonde ale, brewed with apricot juice, honey, cardamom, and vanilla beans.

Expect Bell’s Venus sometime in October, 2014.

Style: Blonde Ale (w/ Vanilla Beans, Cardamom, Honey, Apricot Juice)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Arrival: Mid-October, 2014

7.5% ABV

Read more: Bell’s Planetary Series

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Headlines

First Look: Bell’s Next Three Can Offerings

Bell’s Brewery just recently shipped their first two offerings in cans, Two-Hearted Ale and Oberon. They will soon release new can offerings.

Coming soon will be Best Brown Ale, Winter White and Smitten Golden Rye Ale in 16oz cans later this year, and into 2015.

“We love being able to offer these brands in both cans and glass to suit the various lifestyles of our customers and fans,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President.

Best Brown Ale will be first, around Labor Day. Expect Winter White Ale in November, and Smitten Golden Rye Ale in Feburary, 2015.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, New Releases

Bell’s Homebrew Competition Winner “Proud Mitten”

Bell’s Brewery (Comstock, MI) will unveil Proud Mitten, the winner of the 2013 Bell’s Homebrew Competition, at the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo.

Proud Mitten is a blend of an American pale and and IPA, created by David Lyman, of Kalamazoo. Double dry hopped, Mitten uses Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hops.

“Brewing with Zeke (Bell’s Specialty Brewer) was an amazing experience.  His knowledge on brewing science and practical brewing was something that I was looking forward to, and he didn’t let me down.  Zeke answered all my questions,” Lyman said.

Bell’s Proud Mitten will be available at the Eccentric Cafe, and the American Homebrews Association Homebrew Conference in Grand Rapids on June 12 and 13. Mitten will also tap at the Brewru Experience at this year’s Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan and at a future Kalamazoo Growler’s baseball game.

5.8% ABV

pic via Bell’s Brewery

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Headlines

Bells Kicks Off New Series Based on Holst’s “The Planets” [UPDATED]

English composer Gustav Holst is best known for his orchestral suite “The Planets.” The piece was first conceived in 1913, thanks to his interest in astrology. Mars was the first to be written, with Mercury completed in 1915. (Don’t go looking for Pluto.)

Bell’s Brewery is a fan of Holst too, kicking off a new series dedicated to each piece. Mercury being the last composed, but appears fourth in the composition.

This is one of a seven part series inspired by Gustav Holst’s musical composition, “The Planets.” Strap in and embark on a flavor tour of our solar system – in the order of Holst’s piece, Mars To Neptune.

Bell’s Mercury The Winged Messenger Belgian-Style Ale will be available in 12oz bottles.

Style: Belgian-Style Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Arrival: TBA

4.8% ABV

Update 6/6:  6 packs and draft will ship to all of Bell’s states starting in August with  Mercury The Winged Messenger Belgian-Style Ale. The final release will drop in July, 2015. The rundown is as follows:

“Mars, The Bringer of War” – Double IPA (August, 2014)

“Venus, The Bringer of Peace” – A Blonde Ale brewed with honey, apricot, vanilla and cardamom (ETA October, 2014)

“Mercury, The Winged Messenger” – A Belgian Single (ETA December, 2014)

“Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity” – A malt forward Brown Ale (ETA February, 2015)

“Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age” – A Bourbon Barrel-aged Barleywine (ETA April, 2015)

“Uranus, The Magician” – Black Double IPA (ETA June, 2015)

“Neptune, The Mystic” – A beer inspired by Dr. Bell’s Medicinal Stout, one of Larry Bell’s homebrews that also helped inspire Eccentric Ale. (July, 2015)

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Bell’s First Cans Hit Shelves

Bell’s Brewery’s first cans are now hitting shelves. Yes, finally Oberon and Two Hearted Ale are pool friendly.

The excitement built back in 2012, when the cans were slated for the market.  May, 2014 they are finally hitting shelves.

Bell’s Oberon cans are a seasonal, white Two-Hearted is a year round can offering.

Read more: Craft beer in cans

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Bell’s Oberon Returns. Cans Soon.

It may not feel like it, but warmer weather is close. It has to be right?

Bell’s Brewery has released Oberon again for 2014 this week. Oberon signals the hope of warmer weather, porch drinking, and baseball tailgating.

“With a winter like this one, people are definitely ready to say goodbye to gloves and scarves. Raising that first Oberon is a tradition, something we all look forward to,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President.

Bell’s Oberon is one of the brewery’s most popular beers, a wheat ale with Bell’s house yeast. Oberon Release Day was so popular last year, that a pint was poured every 15 seconds for 15 hours.

Bell’s Oberon 2014 is available in 12oz bottles, 16oz cans (Late April), mini kegs, and of course – draft.

Style: American Wheat Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 16oz Cans, Mini Kegs, Draft. Summer seasonal

5.5% ABV

Untappd user? Check in to Bell’s Oberon 2014 for a special badge… 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, Distribution Expansion

Bell’s To Ship to SoCal

Bell’s Brewery will begin shipping to southern California in May, 2014. SoCal marks the 20th state that Bell’s distributes to.

The brewery has selected Craft Beer Guild Distributing of California to distribute their entire portfolio to San Diego and surrounding areas.

“These two counties will help us establish ourselves while making sure the needs of our existing customers are met,” said Laura Bell, Bell’s Vice President.

The addition of California comes after the addition of New York City in February, and Upstate New York last year. Bell’s distributes as far west as Arizona.

 

by Reid Ramsay